Starvation Mode and Hypothryroidism

I have a hypo thyroid and I am on a higher dose of medication then my sister-in-law who had her thyroid removed. I have no issues eating :laugh: or getting my calories in. When was the last time you had it checked? Are you just seeing your MD or a specialist? My whole world turned around once I started seeing a specialist.
As far as feeling sick, that's my bodies way of saying I've waited WAY too long to eat. Every body is different though. Why don't you try to add high calorie foods to your meals rather then lower ones? Cheese is always good, double your lunch mean on a sandwich. i've actually never had a problem of not being able to eat my calories, so take it as you will :blushing:

I also have hypothyroidism and when i started this journey I weighed 213. I'm not a veggie however pretty dang close. Remember to eat fish, tuna and even peanut butter or other nuts to get your protein in. I recently was in starvation mode and didn't even know it. I have been doing this for almost 2 years. Always remember to eat your calories and you shed your weight.

if you any other questions we are always here to help

I'm wondering if something like Boost, or even a diet drink like Slim Fast would be a solution to calories when I feel nausea. I like that brown rice idea too. That's very palatable.

You need to watch the meal drinks such as Boost and the such... some are loaded with carbs and you didn't mention your sugar but you might consider Glycerna or Zoic so not to spike your sugar - those crashes don't help with you feeling well, either.

For those of you who are hypothyroid DO NOT eat any soy unless it's fermented. Soy is one of the worst things you can eat for your thyroid. Fermented forms of soy: natto, miso, tempeh and soy sauce. Some tofu is fermented and some is not, so check the source. A great resource for more information read: "Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need to Know" by Mary J. Shomon.

I was going to say have some soy yoghurt, but after the last post I guess I shouldn't. I'm vegan and also struggle getting calories in. I just had tacos for dinner and the taco shells were nearly half the total calories! I had to have a glass of apple juice and some olives to make up the difference.

You could try rice milk or other types of natural fruit juice (just make sure they're 100% fruit juice). Or better yet, eat a lot of fruit. Most pieces of fruit have around 80 calories, so 1-2 between each meal helps bring the numbers up.

I have two breakfasts - one cereal with a banana and soy milk, then an hour later I have toast with vegemite (that's a yeast extract spread very popular here in Aus - I'd say pretty much everyone eats it unless they grew up overseas)

Lentils can get calories up. Add some flaxseed oil to get the fats as well.

Finally, if you've just become vegetarian, keep a close eye on your calcium and iron levels. Its easy to get these if you try, but if you don't think about it its also easy not to get any!

Try adding nuts or seeds to your salads. They will add calories fast and they're good for you. Trader joes sells handful bags which are about 200 caloreis. Hemp, almond or soy milk (since your vegetarian) is a quick and easy drink which will add caloreis and protein. Quina is also a whole food that is delicous and nutricious. Check out Whole Foods Market website for recipes. Best to you on your journey. I wish I could say I wasen't always hungry.

I eat cereal for breakfast as well.... Put some almonds and blueberries in your cereal. If blueberries aren't available try bannana. I used to really have issues with milk but I have tried organic milk and i don't have problems with it. Soy is a no no!!!!! I have been on thyroid med for over 20 yrs and it's so important to eat your cals! I also feel like I am eating all day, but you will get rid of that nauseated feeling. Yogurt, almonds, fruit, are great snacks during the day. It has also helped me to eat a bigger breakfast, then a snack within 2 hrs. I usually eat at 7:30 am, snack at 9, lunch at 11:30, snack at 1:30, snack at 4ish, dinner by 7. By the time i make my dinner at 7 i am not really that hungry. But I make myself eat it all. I eat about 6 meals a day. If i don't eat my calories I actually gain weight. It took my doc and myself awhile to figure it out. But we did. Good luck

I realize that some with hypothyroidism still want to eat soy, but it has nothing to do with the ability of the body to absorb the thyroid medicine, soy can actually cause hypothyroidism. Here's a link to one article explaining some of the dangers of soy: http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/soydangers.htm

Also, Calcium and Iron within 4 hours of taking your thyroid medicine will effect your bodies ability to absorb the thyroid medicine. (Yet another thing Doctors don't usually tell you!)

I understand the logic, but I fail to see how this is possible unless you set an alarm to wake you in the middle of the night to take the meds. Or I guess this would mean skipping breakfast ?

I will do some research on the writer of the article/book, and I will bring this info to my next visit with my endo. He spends at least an hour with me once to twice per month, so I feel confident that he is telling me all he possily tell me in that time. He also goes over, sometimes we talk for 2 hours. If he could download his 12 years of study, 30 years in practice, and 15 years teaching at a major university into my brain, I'm sure he would.

Sometimes doctors don't tell patients things, but WE need to be informed. We can't possibly expect them to teach us everything and fix us all without any faults. They have phones, we go back for follow ups.... It is up to us to let them know what information is relevant for our situations. They are human and sometimes they have more pressing issues to worry about with our treatments. I know that my doctor is more worried about my low calorie intake than he is about me eating cereal with soy milk less than an hour after I take my medicine. Because I have to take my meds when I wake up, but I'm not allowed to eat past an hour after I wake. I also can't go more than 4 hours between meals and my medically prescribed diet requires certain exchanges at each feeding. Everybody has thier own situation, sometimes we can't all form to all the rules out there and still make our situation work.

Just sayin.....